Observation / Reflection #4:Be Quiet! I'm Trying To Talk!
In this observation, pay attention to how your teacher manages his or her classroom. What types of disruptions, if any, occur while you're visiting? How do they set the class in motion? How do they deal with interruptions (from the outside) and disruptions (from their students)? Determine whether there are students in the classes that you will teach that are especially troublesome. Ask your CT how he or she addresses these students' needs. Reflect on your "vision" of an ideal science classroom. What classroom policies will you try to implement in YOUR classroom? How does your vision align with your teaching philosophy?
Observations:
There were plenty of disruptions during a motion lab the other day in 8th grade Physical Science. The students were studying acceleration and releasing a car and measuring the time it took to pass point A and then measuring the time it took to get from point A to point B then they had to graph their results. The 8th grade boys were disruptive while the girls were very mello, actually they were annoyed with the boys behavior. There are 4 boys and 3 girls in this particular class. The boys were having a particularly tough day because I felt like there were constant disruptions. One boy was talking in different accents and claiming they were his normal voice, so he was reprimanded a couple of times and told to speak normal in the science lab. The teacher stopped what we were doing, looked right at him and told him to knock it off. She told him we were doing a science lab and that especially during this time to stop fooling around and speak in a clear tone so that the other students could copy down the data he was telling them. He finally got the hint and stopped, I think he was doing it for attention. Next another male student asked why we were doing the lab, said he didn't want to answer any questions and asked why he had to do anything in the first place, to that, my CT replied that she would deal with that situation later but for right now he was to do what he is told. My CT is to the point, stern and does not let anyone walk over her, tell her how to do her job or what they are going to do. Once a student is rude, obnoxious or just disruptive for any reason, she calls them out immediately. She will put them on a strike system if the behavior warrents that but for the most part and strong glare and telling them to stop it works pretty well. I didn't notice any disruptions from the outside world but I would imagine that she deals with them quietly and quickly and gets back to the task at hand. If the behavior warrants, then the student will be processed. This involves the student filling out a form reflecting on his or her behavior and going to the office, the teacher writes a note on the form as well and the form is seen by the principal and is sent home for the parent to know what had happened. Sometimes the student will be sent home depending on the behavior. The processing form seems to embarrass the students because it specifically calls them on their behavior and they have to reflect on their behavior by answering the questions on the form. This forces the student to take responsibility for their actions. Every teacher uses this process, and I think it is a good idea. I think that if students get repeatedly called on their behavior, then by processing them it will deter the behavior, there will be less problems and more time for learning and less time for disruptions and bad behavior.
Reflections:
In the ideal classroom, no time will be wasted by disruptive behavior or any other reason. However, in the real world these things are bound to happen and its how you deal with these things that will set the pace of the classroom. In an ideal classroom, students will come right in and get to work, they will be motivated, ask questions, be curious, get A's on their work and come to class everyday. But, students will miss school, they will be tired, moody, unmotivated, and not want to do anything, and give you a hard time. I think that it is really important to start the year with clear rules and expectations of the classroom. I tihnk its important to be firm with your students, have a professional working relationship and to call them out when they break a rule. You have to do what you say your going to do or chaos will break out. In my classroom I will have an attendance policy that is aligned with the school's attendance policy if there is one, i want to develop a homework policy, rules and expectations for my classroom and have them posted. I want my students to sign a contract along with their parents so everything is clear and there are no questions when something comes up. I also think its important to have an alliance of teachers to back each other up if possible in case something happens and you need help with a student. I think the processing concept is a good one. I like how students have to reflect on their behavior and they have to own it. It seems like this rarely happens and there is always a scape goat, so with this I think that bad behaviors will decrease so kids dont feel ashamed or embarrassed. My vision of my classroom although I want to think of it as an ideal classroom, I have to be realistic as well. My teaching philosophy therefore shouldnt be based on my ideal philosophy but on a realistic philosophy. I think that so long I enforce my rules, have a professional working relationship with my students and peers, promote their success, smile, connect with the students and actively teach with no nonsense and try to make it as fun and interesting as possible these are all realistic expectations for a teacher to do the best he or she can.
Class Topic: Motion Lab Grade: 8 Observed by: Roberta Closter
Observation / Reflection #4:Be Quiet! I'm Trying To Talk!
In this observation, pay attention to how your teacher manages his or her classroom. What types of disruptions, if any, occur while you're visiting? How do they set the class in motion? How do they deal with interruptions (from the outside) and disruptions (from their students)? Determine whether there are students in the classes that you will teach that are especially troublesome. Ask your CT how he or she addresses these students' needs. Reflect on your "vision" of an ideal science classroom. What classroom policies will you try to implement in YOUR classroom? How does your vision align with your teaching philosophy?Observations:
There were plenty of disruptions during a motion lab the other day in 8th grade Physical Science. The students were studying acceleration and releasing a car and measuring the time it took to pass point A and then measuring the time it took to get from point A to point B then they had to graph their results. The 8th grade boys were disruptive while the girls were very mello, actually they were annoyed with the boys behavior. There are 4 boys and 3 girls in this particular class. The boys were having a particularly tough day because I felt like there were constant disruptions. One boy was talking in different accents and claiming they were his normal voice, so he was reprimanded a couple of times and told to speak normal in the science lab. The teacher stopped what we were doing, looked right at him and told him to knock it off. She told him we were doing a science lab and that especially during this time to stop fooling around and speak in a clear tone so that the other students could copy down the data he was telling them. He finally got the hint and stopped, I think he was doing it for attention. Next another male student asked why we were doing the lab, said he didn't want to answer any questions and asked why he had to do anything in the first place, to that, my CT replied that she would deal with that situation later but for right now he was to do what he is told. My CT is to the point, stern and does not let anyone walk over her, tell her how to do her job or what they are going to do. Once a student is rude, obnoxious or just disruptive for any reason, she calls them out immediately. She will put them on a strike system if the behavior warrents that but for the most part and strong glare and telling them to stop it works pretty well. I didn't notice any disruptions from the outside world but I would imagine that she deals with them quietly and quickly and gets back to the task at hand. If the behavior warrants, then the student will be processed. This involves the student filling out a form reflecting on his or her behavior and going to the office, the teacher writes a note on the form as well and the form is seen by the principal and is sent home for the parent to know what had happened. Sometimes the student will be sent home depending on the behavior. The processing form seems to embarrass the students because it specifically calls them on their behavior and they have to reflect on their behavior by answering the questions on the form. This forces the student to take responsibility for their actions. Every teacher uses this process, and I think it is a good idea. I think that if students get repeatedly called on their behavior, then by processing them it will deter the behavior, there will be less problems and more time for learning and less time for disruptions and bad behavior.Reflections:
In the ideal classroom, no time will be wasted by disruptive behavior or any other reason. However, in the real world these things are bound to happen and its how you deal with these things that will set the pace of the classroom. In an ideal classroom, students will come right in and get to work, they will be motivated, ask questions, be curious, get A's on their work and come to class everyday. But, students will miss school, they will be tired, moody, unmotivated, and not want to do anything, and give you a hard time. I think that it is really important to start the year with clear rules and expectations of the classroom. I tihnk its important to be firm with your students, have a professional working relationship and to call them out when they break a rule. You have to do what you say your going to do or chaos will break out. In my classroom I will have an attendance policy that is aligned with the school's attendance policy if there is one, i want to develop a homework policy, rules and expectations for my classroom and have them posted. I want my students to sign a contract along with their parents so everything is clear and there are no questions when something comes up. I also think its important to have an alliance of teachers to back each other up if possible in case something happens and you need help with a student. I think the processing concept is a good one. I like how students have to reflect on their behavior and they have to own it. It seems like this rarely happens and there is always a scape goat, so with this I think that bad behaviors will decrease so kids dont feel ashamed or embarrassed. My vision of my classroom although I want to think of it as an ideal classroom, I have to be realistic as well. My teaching philosophy therefore shouldnt be based on my ideal philosophy but on a realistic philosophy. I think that so long I enforce my rules, have a professional working relationship with my students and peers, promote their success, smile, connect with the students and actively teach with no nonsense and try to make it as fun and interesting as possible these are all realistic expectations for a teacher to do the best he or she can.Class Topic: Motion Lab
Grade: 8
Observed by: Roberta Closter